The altercation with Fournier continued what has been an underwhelming 2016-17 season for Beal and the Wizards.

The 23-year-old sharpshooter, who's in the first year of a five-year, $127 million deal, is averaging a career-high 20.1 points a game, but his field-goal percentage has dropped from 44.9 percent in 2015-16 to 42.9 percent. He's also shooting a career-worst 35.5 percent from beyond the arc.

More importantly, the Wizards are 5-10, two games back of the Indiana Pacers for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. A second straight season without postseason basketball is a real possibility for Washington, which would be a major disappointment.

Last Wednesday, Bleacher Report's Ric Bucher wrote that as a result of the team's struggles, questions are being asked as to whether Beal and John Wall are the right tandem to take the franchise forward.